Clutching the jade pendant, Han Feng strode towards the parking area. His original plan to report to Long Yuan was decisively cancelled; the more important thing now was to prepare his family for the worst.
My phone started vibrating as soon as it got a signal. There were over a dozen unread messages, mostly from Liu Mengran:
"Where did you go? My phone is always out of service."
"Grandpa Lin called looking for you."
"My aunt and uncle asked if I wanted to have hot pot together tonight."
Han Feng dialed the number directly, and it was answered after one ring.
"Han Feng?" Liu Mengran's voice was filled with worry. "Are you alright?"
"Take Wanwan to my parents' place right now." Han Feng started the car. "I have something important to tell you."
"Now?" Liu Mengran was clearly taken aback.
"That's right, let's go now." Han Feng turned the steering wheel and drove onto the main road. "This is very important. I'll be there in about half an hour."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone: "Okay, we're on our way now."
After hanging up the phone, Han Feng stepped on the gas.
As the car entered the villa area, two girls could be seen standing in front of the villa from afar. Liu Mengran was looking down at her watch, while Su Wanwan was impatiently kicking pebbles.
"Finally back!" Su Wanwan was the first to spot Han Feng's car. "If you hadn't come back, Mengran was going to call the police!"
Han Feng parked the car and rushed over: "Are Mom and Dad home?"
"She's preparing hot pot ingredients in the kitchen." Liu Mengran carefully observed Han Feng's expression. "What happened? You look terrible."
Han Feng opened his mouth, unsure where to begin. Should he tell them that a young lady would be visiting in three days, and that she might even be his destiny...?
"Let's go inside and talk." He just rubbed his temples in the end.
The aroma of hot pot wafted out the moment the door opened. Han's father was carrying a plate of sliced beef out of the kitchen. Seeing his son, he smiled, "Oh, you're back so soon..." Before he could finish, he noticed Han Feng's unusually serious expression. "What's wrong?"
"Please come and sit in the living room." Han Feng took a deep breath. "I have some... unusual news to announce."
Ten minutes later, the whole family was staring blankly at the white jade pendant on the coffee table. The hot pot was bubbling away in the dining room, but no one paid any attention to it.
Of course, Han Feng didn't reveal that he was the Lord of Star Souls. He only told his parents and others that the Dongfang family valued him highly, and he didn't want his family to worry too much about him.
"So..." Su Wanwan broke the silence first, "This Dongfang Wantang is the daughter of one of the three great ancient martial arts families? And she possesses the ability of divination?"
Han Feng nodded: "That's right, and this ability is extremely powerful."
"Then she knows you like..." Su Wanwan suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes darting back and forth between Han Feng and Liu Mengran.
Liu Mengran's face flushed red. Han's parents exchanged a puzzled look.
"That's not the point," Han Feng said, rubbing his forehead. "The point is, she's coming to our house in three days, and we know almost nothing about her."
Su Wanwan suddenly raised her hand: "I have a question! Where will she stay when she comes? She can't stay with us, can she?"
She looked around. "They can't possibly stay with us too, can they?"
Han Feng's chopsticks paused in mid-air, and he slowly nodded: "In fact... she really is going to live with us."
"Fine!" Su Wanwan pouted, stirring her chopsticks wildly in her bowl. "Wouldn't that mean all our secrets would be exposed?"
Liu Mengran gently kicked Su Wanwan under the table, giving her a warning look. Su Wanwan then fell silent and lowered her head to pick at the food in her bowl.
Han's father wiped his mouth, his brow furrowing slightly: "Xiao Feng, are you sure the Dongfang family doesn't have any hostility towards you?"
"I'm sure." Han Feng poured his father a glass of beer. "Their family has an ancient pact with the Star Soul lineage, and sending people here this time is to fulfill a promise made by their ancestors."
Foam overflowed from the rim of the glass, sliding down the glass rim, much like the subtle atmosphere at the dining table. Mother Han suddenly chuckled softly, adding food to everyone's bowls: "It's alright, come on over." Her gaze swept over everyone, "Since you said you're here to assist our Xiao Feng, why worry so much? We're not unreasonable people."
Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan were both taken aback. The shrimp paste that Liu Mengran was holding fell back into the pot, splashing a few drops of red oil.
(Yeah, what am I worried about?) Liu Mengran muttered to herself, stealing a glance at Han Feng. (Is it just because the other person is a woman?)
This thought surprised even herself. She had always thought of herself as rational enough, but she hadn't expected to be subconsciously jealous?
Su Wanwan's reaction was more direct. She opened her mouth wide, looked at Han's mother, then at Han Feng, and suddenly realized her lapse in composure. She quickly stuffed a big mouthful of rice into her mouth.
All eyes fell on Han Feng simultaneously, each one with a strange look in their eyes. Han Feng felt a chill run down his spine, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
(Am I supposed to just say it's because she's a stunning beauty and I'm afraid they'll get jealous?) Han Feng groaned inwardly. (I can't exactly announce our relationship in front of my parents, can I?)
Although his parents had clearly sensed something, that unspoken understanding was completely different from actually breaking the ice. Han Feng felt sweat starting to appear on his forehead, unsure whether it was from the heat of the hot pot or the psychological pressure.
"This tripe is cooked." Han Feng abruptly changed the subject, picking up a slice of dark tripe and placing it in Liu Mengran's bowl. "Your favorite."
Liu Mengran bowed her head and thanked him softly, her ears still red. Su Wanwan, sitting opposite her, pouted and deliberately pushed her bowl towards Han Feng, her eyes saying, "Where's mine?"
Han Feng quickly cooked another slice of tripe for her. Han's mother, watching this, smiled slightly and gave her husband a wink. Han's father coughed lightly and raised his beer glass: "Come on, let's have one."
The five cups clinked together, making a crisp sound.
After dinner, Han Feng took Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan back to the villa.
The three of them sat on the sofa, staring at each other.
"That Miss Dongfang..." Liu Mengran suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Is she really only here to assist you?"
Han Feng stroked his chin and said, "As far as I know, yes." He turned to Liu Mengran, "What are you worried about?"
Liu Mengran glanced at Su Wanwan but didn't say anything.
Su Wanwan, being very sensible, replied, "Does Sister Mengran mean she knows about our relationship?"
Han Feng gave a wry smile: "It's precisely because I know that I'm afraid you'll overthink things."
"We understand." Liu Mengran looked up, her eyes like two clear springs in the warm living room light. "It's just that suddenly having to live with a stranger..."
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